I didn't spot the x wing in 2s but used the xwing in 4s (cols 2 and 8 ) so r2c3 is not 4 and this set up an amost Xy wing pivoted in r5c3. so if r6c1 is not 4 it becomes 5 via the xy wing 258. else it is 4- so it cannot be 8 so r3c1 is 8 and this solves it! This logic can be tested by setting r6c1 to 8 and in two moves we can see that it is wrong since there is then no 5 in box 4

corrected after reading thecomment below thank you---george

Last edited by George Woods on Sat Nov 17, 2012 5:15 pm; edited 2 times in total

I didn't spot the x wing in 2s but used the xwing in 4s (cols 2 and 8 so r2c3 is not 4 and this set up an amost Xy wing pivoted in r5c3. so if r1c6 is not 4 it becomes 5 via the xy wing 258. else it is 4- so it cannot be 8 so r3c1 is 8 and this solves it! This logic can be tested by setting r1c6 to 8 and in two moves we can see that it is wrong since there is then no 5 in box 4

George,

Nice find. I never expected anyone to use an "almost" pattern on this site, but they are easy to spot and very useful.

Your last comment about setting r6c1=8 (you had a typo: r1c6) is sufficient to complete the puzzle; the x-wing(4) is not required.

rebkell wrote
''I'm still having problems solving this after all the x-wing, xy wing I come up with this and I'm just a dunce, but I can't figure out how to solve it from here''.
You are right, an x-wing on 4 in row 46; r9c1<>4 was needed to comlete it. Sorry for the inconvinience